Trailer where Allan Schoenborn killed 3 children torn down
The trailer where Allan Schoenborn murdered his three children in Merritt was demolished Tuesday more than seven years after the horrific deaths.
The bodies of 10-year-old Kaitlynne and her younger brothers, Max and Cordon, were found by their mother Darcie Clarke inside the home.
Schoenborn, who fled the scene, was caught, charged and found not criminally responsible for the deaths because of mental illness. He has since made requests for supervised leave and day passes from the psychiatric hospital where he is being treated.
Trailer became site of crime scene
The trailer in a Merritt park isn't currently occupied and Merritt council voted to direct the owners of the now abandoned and uninhabitable structure to pull it down.
Carol Hollingsworth lives across the street from the trailer and said seeing the site every day was a constant reminder.
"It's impossible to ever get it out of your mind. It's just constantly there," she said. "It would be nice if they turned it into a little park, maybe with a bench. You know flowers. Something. Something nice after all this."
Another neighbour Paul Fairfield said he's also glad to see the trailer torn down.
"It's just good to see that landmark removed and perhaps another property go there and erase the memory of this event," he said. "I personally don't think any memorial of this event should take place. It's not that I want to forget those kids. It's such a tragedy but I don't think it's any advantage to keep remembering something like that."
The city has received many complaints about the dilapidated nature of the mobile home.
Neighbours glad to see trailer destroyed
Saxson Peters, the contractor in charge of the demolition project, said working on the site brings back memories of the tragedy that happened inside the trailer.
"Normally these demos are fun. This one not so much. Just work. Get it done as quickly as possible and move on," he said Tuesday.
"Neighbors have been excellent. I talked to almost all the neighbors yesterday and let them know we were doing this and they were heavily supportive of the project and thankful to see it go."
